michigan ross undergraduate essays

Tips for Your Michigan Ross Application Essays 

June 17, 2024

Sophie Hilaire

Michigan Ross Application Essay Tips, 2024–2025

This year, Michigan Ross overhauled its essay questions and doubled the word count maximums. As a result, applicants will have a lot more space to flesh out their goals, personality, and character. Since these questions are brand new, let’s take a moment to discuss how you can best position yourself through your essays for this year’s applicant pool.

Part 1: Ross Experiences in Action-Based Learning (REAL) 

At Michigan Ross, we believe the best way to learn is by doing. In our Full-Time MBA Program, you will put your skills and knowledge to the test in real-world situations with real stakes. How will this learning environment benefit you, and how do you plan to contribute to the action-based learning experience? (300 words) 

Michigan Ross’s full-time MBA program emphasizes learning by doing, a methodology based on the belief that real-world experiences foster the most profound growth. To thoughtfully address this prompt, familiarize yourself with REAL , and consider the tangible benefits of such an immersive learning environment and how you envision contributing to it.

Start by reflecting on past experiences when practical application significantly enhanced your learning. Discuss how action-based learning has affected your growth and why it’s a critical aspect of your educational journey. For instance, you might highlight a project where you led a team to solve a complex problem, emphasizing the stakes involved and how the experience honed your leadership and decision-making skills.

Next, articulate how the Ross REAL experience will uniquely benefit you. Identify specific aspects of the MBA program, such as the Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP), student-led investment funds, or international consulting opportunities, and explain how these will equip you with the skills and knowledge to excel in your career. Connect these experiences to your personal and professional development goals.

Finally, illustrate how you plan to contribute to the action-based learning environment at Ross. Share examples of your proactive approach in previous roles — whether it’s initiating a new project, mentoring peers, or collaborating across functions. Highlight your commitment to fostering a collaborative and innovative learning atmosphere, ensuring that you not only benefit from but also enhance the learning experience for your peers.

Part 2: How will you make an impact at Michigan Ross? 

Michigan Ross is proud to support a community of leaders and impact makers. As a future member of this community, we want to know more about who you are and what drives you. Please choose 1 of the following prompts to tell us more about what makes you stand out beyond your academic and work experience. List the prompt you are answering at the top of your response. (200 words) 

• What makes you unique? 
• Can you provide a specific example of how you’ve overcome a personal challenge? 
• What makes you excited to get up each morning? 
• Describe a time when you made a difference in your community or with an individual. 

The purpose of these prompts is to give the admissions committee a better idea of who you are as a person and how you view yourself — kind of a peek “behind” your resume. Every word counts here; the tight word count is intentional to force you to focus. Ross is guiding applicants to share more about themselves in a very direct and focused way. Show the adcom who you are as a person, and what unique experiences and insights you would bring to the MBA class.

Most of the prompt choices focus on your personality traits and actions you have taken in the past. Use your answer to demonstrate to the admissions reader how you are like no one else. Try to find examples that give insights into who you are and that complement information in your resume, rather than repeating it, and don’t be afraid to share non-work-related examples. Incorporate details that will make your responses clearly and undeniably your own, and be sure to focus on what you have learned from the experiences and how those takeaways have contributed to the person you are today. 

Most applicants will probably assume that they should discuss only positive experiences or accomplishments in their answers to these prompts, but keep in mind that sharing an example of how you failed or made a mistake and learned from it can be an effective way to show growth. Relating a challenging experience can demonstrate that you are self-aware and can learn from obstacles, so the resulting essays can often be great, as long as you focus on how you grew from the experiences you relate. Ross is most interested in authentic, unique personal stories that illustrate the qualities candidates would bring to the MBA class. Consider sharing an item that cemented your resolve to work toward your future goals or a personal story that highlights your values. Be sure to allocate more words to the “why” and fewer to the “what.”

Part 3: Career Aspirations 

What is your short-term career goal, and how will Ross help you achieve it? (200 words) 

This is a straightforward and traditional essay prompt; Ross wants to know what you envision for yourself professionally in the years right after you graduate, as well as what your motivation is for pursuing this path. Be explicit in describing your short-term career goal, and make sure to build a compelling story as to why it is a fitting choice for you, including how your background or interests have prepared you for your stated goal. Maybe a work project got you excited about pursuing a leadership position, or maybe a personal passion is driving a career change. The “why” shows that you have been thoughtful in selecting this career aspiration and creates a compelling story. Given the minimal word count, prioritize telling your story as clearly and directly as possible. 

For the second part of this question, explicitly name how you believe Ross will help you achieve your goal, such as via certain courses, programs, events, clubs, and so on. Make sure to do your research — Ross has a lot to offer in addition to its big-ticket programs, so showing you’ve familiarized yourself in depth with the school will impress the committee! 

Optional Essay 

Is there something in your resume or application that needs a brief explanation? Appropriate uses of this essay would be the explanation of an employment gap, academic outliers, choice of recommender, completion of supplemental coursework, etc. You may use bullet points where appropriate. (250 words) 

By stating outright that it’s okay to use bullet points in your response to this prompt, Ross is clearly indicating that it just wants the most relevant information here. This is not your chance to share another story you think is interesting but that will not actually add to the admissions committee’s knowledge or understanding of you in any meaningful way. So, provide this optional information only if one of the suggested situations applies to you (“an employment gap, academic outliers, choice of recommender, completion of supplemental coursework”) or some other element of your candidacy would benefit from further clarification. One example would be if your recommender is not your direct supervisor. Or maybe you have a disciplinary issue in your past that could be mitigated by some explanation. At any rate, there’s no need to make your response any longer than it needs to be (or even to respond at all!) — just communicate any critical information. 

In Stratus Admissions’ blog post How to Get into Michigan Ross School of Business , you will find information on a variety of the MBA program’s offerings, such as the Multidisciplinary Action Project (MAP), the Erb Institute, the MTrek Program, and the Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund. Read our guide to learn more about Michigan Ross!

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Common questions, essay questions.

As students consider how they will contribute to the University of Michigan campus community and respond to question and essay prompts, they may wish to highlight things that had an impact on them such as: their involvement in clubs, competing as a student-athlete, studying abroad, going on a mission trip, being engaged in debate, participating in the performing or visual arts, having alumni ties to the institution, making a difference in their community, serving in a leadership capacity, being an entrepreneur, and many others. 

University of Michigan Questions

• Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.  (Required for all applicants; minimum 100 words/maximum 300 words)
• Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? (Required for all applicants; minimum 100 words /maximum 550 words)

The Common Application Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Transfer Applicants:   If you are a transfer student, please view the Transfer Essay Questions webpage  for additional required essays.

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Tips for UMich’s Ross School of Business Case Discussion

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Robert Crystal in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info. 

What’s Covered:

Applying to the ross school of business, ross school of business essay prompt 1.

Currently, the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business is ranked third in the nation for business schools. Given its quality of education and selectivity, students who are interested in getting into Ross should keep a few important factors in mind.

Apply by the Early Action Deadline

First, it’s important to note that the University of Michigan tries to fill its incoming class during the early action period. Applications received later will be considered only depending on available space. Students interested in applying to Ross School of Business should aim to submit their applications to the University of Michigan by the early action deadline.

Select a First-Year Admitting Unit

Next, when applying, applicants need to select a first-year admitting unit and preferred admission for the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. The first-year admission units available to prospective Ross students are the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA), College of Engineering, School of Kinesiology (Sport Management only), School of Music Theatre & Dance, and Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design. 

Ross Prerequisites

Regardless of the school you choose, as long as it’s preapproved for transfer to Ross, you will still be able to take some classes at Ross as a first-year student and begin your prerequisite courses. Your admission to Ross is not guaranteed once you are admitted to the University of Michigan. You won’t be officially admitted to Ross until you apply for a cross-campus transfer, so it’s important to do well in the Ross prerequisite courses to remain eligible for the school.

The last component of applying to Ross is completing two additional essays along with your University of Michigan first-year application. 

The first University of Michigan Ross School of Business essay prompt is:

“Choose a current event or issue in your community and discuss the business implications. Propose a solution that incorporates business principles or practices. The review panel will look for creativity, drawing connections, and originality.

This case discussion helps us learn more about your understanding of business. The topic should be unique to your interests, experiences, and knowledge. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ business situation to choose — it’s truly up to you. We encourage you to select a topic that you are passionate about and not a global topic that you’re disconnected from.” (500 words)

Include Business Jargon

Through this prompt, Ross admissions officers are looking to better understand your grasp of business procedures. Because of this, it’s important to include some technical terms and business jargon to demonstrate your understanding of the business field. You don’t want your response to lack narrative flair either, as the prompt specifically asks for “creativity, drawing connections, and originality.” 

Choosing a Topic

On choosing a topic, the prompt tells applicants to avoid selecting “a global topic that you’re disconnected from,” so instead, applicants should focus on something that they’re passionate about. 

When approaching this prompt, try identifying a current event or issue in your community that matters to you, and incorporate it into your response. Don’t worry about the scale of the issue. Instead, make sure it’s something you can write about extensively. The prompt emphasizes it should be a preestablished passion, not a vague global topic that you’re not connected to, so it needs to hit close to home. Ideally, the topic you choose will be something you have experience with and that you’ve already made an effort to research or resolve.

Focus on the Solution

To start your essay, begin with an anecdotal line that provides enough context for readers to understand the issue at hand and your connection to it. Then, try to spend the majority of your response constructing some sort of business solution to the issue you chose.

The solution portion is the most critical part of your response as stating the issue is used as a jumping-off point for you to talk about your solution. The solution section should reveal a lot about you through how you choose to approach the problem. 

When crafting your business plan, consider marketing tactics and relevant costs, then define what a successful outcome looks like. As you work on this, you can research different business models and plans online to make sure you’ve adequately grasped the best approach to your solution. However, don’t just copy one that you like. You need to use some creativity to splice different techniques together and make a business solution that’s uniquely yours.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

• Winning Ross Portfolio Artifact Examples – A Case Study

Oct 20, 2023

Arguably the most important aspect of a student’s application to University of Michigan Ross School of Business BBA program is the Portfolio.

The Portfolio itself consist of two parts: (1) Business Case Discussion Essay – 500 words; and (2) Artifact & Description – 250 words. While today we discuss winning artifact examples, if you can learn more about the entire Portfolio itself from our earlier blog: Demystifying the Michigan Ross Portfolio .

First, why is it important to share winning examples? Many students today struggle with these essays and writing in general.

In fact, a recent study finds that only 27% of US high school students are proficient in writing.

Additionally, each year we see students drawn to common pitfalls with this application – for example, with the business case discussion students often fall into the trap of writing about a broad topic without presenting unique solutions and with the Artifact, students often find the artifact essay vague and not clearly defined.

So, what is the artifact? From the words of Ross, it is “essentially, anything at all.” Let’s explore that with greater context next.

• Purpose of Artifact
• What is the Artifact?

Key Requirements of Artifacts

• Winning Artifact Case Studies
• Key Considerations

Purpose Average applicants to Ross are anything but average—they are exceptional, high academic performers, highly involved with extracurriculars, and have demonstrated pursuit of their future career goals.

So how does Ross Admissions differentiate?

Ross utilizes the Portfolio Artifact to allow each student an opportunity to demonstrate the key differentiating traits that make them a compelling candidate.

What is an Artifact? An artifact is something that is unique to your personal identity and story that shines a light on what makes you a unique and reenforce your qualifications.

• They show an important part of your life not referenced elsewhere in the application.
• The highlight your desire for growth and other values consistent with Ross BBA and UM.
• They might NOT be business related.

Winning Artifact Case Studies Two winning artifacts are shared by Ross below from Johanne and Priyanka. After you’ve had a chance to watch these winning examples, you’ll find key considerations below.

Key Considerations Of primary observation is that these students are vulnerable, genuine, and authentic in their response. They are sharing a depth of personality, values, and identity that cannot be shown elsewhere in their application, and their examples demonstrate key traits consistent with the ideal Ross community member.

Takeaway Determining what will make your artifact successful can be an extremely nerve-wrecking task. It’s a prompt unlike any other you’ve been tasked with, and one you may not be prepared to address on your own. If you are interested in learning more about how our team at The Application Authority guides can support Ross applicants with the Portfolio artifact, reach out today for a free consultation .

References https://michiganross.umich.edu/undergraduate/bba/admissions/admissions-blog

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My Top Advice for Applying to Michigan Ross

As we kick-off the 2023-24 application cycle, I am sharing a handful of my top tips to keep in mind when you are applying. 

If you have previously looked at the Common Application , you should note there have not been any major changes to the application or the materials you need to submit to Michigan Ross this year. Your application is an important part of the admissions process, and one of your first steps on your journey to college, and hopefully into the Ross BBA Program. 

Tip 1: Read the instructions

Every year I write this blog post, and I start with this tip: Slow down and read ALL of the instructions. Seems simple, right? But with all that you need to keep together, and for how quickly the eyes want to move through your application, it is important to take your time. 

To help with this, we have a variety of resources on our How to Apply: First Year Applicants page, including a video on how to select Michigan Ross within the Common Application. 

Also, if you happen to forget where to submit your portfolio, we have a Ross Admissions Portfolio website with the SlideRoom link available. 

Tip 2: Take ownership of your application process 

The more organized and in control of your college application process, the less stress you may feel. Taking ownership means understanding and tracking all deadlines you need to meet for the colleges you are applying to (including financial aid). This also means organizing what materials you need to submit in addition to what is requested within the actual application. You will need to submit transcripts, and letters of recommendation, among other items, and it is your responsibility  to ensure that these materials are delivered on time.

Another tip I often give to students is to write a thank you note to your recommenders about a month before each application deadline (which also means you gave them more than a month to write your letter). This is both a form of gratitude, and a good way to politely remind your teachers and counselors if they have not already submitted your letters. 

Tip 3: Make the call, not your parents

Speaking of ownership, it is important that you make the call or initiate the email when you have a question related to your application. It can be brave to navigate a complex application or university system, but it is also a very important experience for you to gain before you arrive on a college campus. Building that independence begins now. The more confident you are now in talking with the staff and faculty at colleges and universities, the more successful you will be later. Remember the common phrase, “no such thing as a stupid question”. That is entirely true! We are here to answer every question you may have and it excites us even more when we talk to a student who is considering our program.

Tip 4: Show an authentic voice through reflective writing

Your voice is the most important part of the application process. College essay writing is reflective writing - not academic writing, and usually not creative writing. What do I mean by reflective? We want students to reflect on their interests, goals, what they will contribute to this new academic community, and what they want to gain from it.

Let’s take that typical “why [this college] essay.” When you answer that question, it is not about what the school will give you in terms of job placement rates or fancy facilities. It is about what you want to get out of your college experience. Reflect on the moment you knew you wanted to study business and tell us why. Was it a class within your high school? An extracurricular activity that exposed you to a new concept or idea? Try to be present with your thinking and stay away from essays that center others as your reason, such as the “dinner time conversations with my parents on their business/job” or “my cousin who attended business school.” Remember, you are the one completing this degree, not anyone else, so you need to show that you have thought through your why.

And, write all of this without platitudes on how great Michigan or Ross is. We certainly love Michigan and Ross, too! But the essay is about you, your goals, and a reflection of what you want to study and why.

Tip 5: The Business Case Discussion is not a research-based prompt

In the BBA program, we solve a lot of problems and case study analysis is at the core of our broad-based management degree. Therefore, the portfolio has a performance assessment known as the Business Case Discussion that allows us to view and analyze your problem-solving ability. I recently wrote a blog post on it and recommend that you check it out. But to quickly summarize a few things here, the Business Case Discussion is not a research-based prompt. You will give no citations or reference works of others. That is because the topic you will choose is local and not global. We are instead looking to see how you identify the business implications and what steps you take to think through or get to a solution. It should all be original thinking on your part.

Tip 6: Submit by the Early Action Deadline

I will end with the last tip I always give: Please apply by the Nov. 1 Early Action deadline . This is the Ross priority deadline. Early Action is non-binding (we do not have any application deadline restrictions or Early Decision deadlines at U-M), and applying by the Nov. 1 deadline is in your best interest. We receive, review, and make decisions periodically for the BBA program, and the later you apply, the higher likelihood that we are filling up and will have less space for admission offers later in the process.

I hope these application tips were helpful. Remember that our website is a wonderful resource for more information on applying, and we have many ways to connect with us . I look forward to reading your applications this winter. 

"Be unique. Be yourself."